[August 26, 2014](Reuters) - Two people were killed
and one was injured on Monday in an explosion at a metal recycling plant
in southern Illinois possibly caused by a mortar round, according to
police and the coroner's office.

The blast occurred at about 6:30 a.m. local time in Granite City,
about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of St. Louis at Totall Metal
Recycling, a company that gets some of its material from the
military, Granite City police said.

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a mortar round,
Granite City Police Major Jeff Connor told a news conference.

Madison County Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Smith confirmed the deaths
of two people.

A state bomb squad was at the scene, assisted by a small team from
Scott Air Force Base in nearby Belleville, Illinois, a base
spokeswoman said.

Totall Metal Recycling employs more than 160 people and accepts for
recycling various metals and electronics, according to its website.

The company said in a statement it was an extremely difficult day
with the loss of two friends and colleagues and it was cooperating
with local, state and federal authorities investigating the
incident.